Cummins buys mining electrification company First Mode
First Mode was previously majority-owned by the commodities and mining group Anglo American. However, the parent company decided to end its involvement as part of a ‘programme to prioritise its capital’. Cummins has now stepped in and acquired the majority of First Mode’s assets and employees on 11 February. First Mode will be combined with the Cummins Power Systems division, according to an accompanying press release. During the transition phase, however, First Mode will continue to serve its customers, according to those responsible.
According to the two parties, the takeover includes all hydrogen and battery drive solutions as well as First Mode’s production and engineering teams in Australia, the USA and Chile. The company is primarily known for its combined fuel cell/battery drive, which is available as a ‘hybrid’ retrofit system for mining machines. Hybrid does not stand for a diesel-hybrid solution, but rather for a combination of fuel cell and battery technology. In the United States, the drive specialist operates a test site for mine transport, among other things.
“This acquisition is an important step forward in our goal to lead our Power Systems customers through the energy transition,” said Jenny Bush, President of Power Systems at Cummins. “With First Mode’s hybrid retrofit technology, we are accelerating our ability to provide decarbonization solutions that meet miners’ need to drive down operating costs today.” They will ensure that these technologies are developed and tested under real-world conditions.
Cummins comes from the traditional engine industry, but is increasingly diversifying its offering to include alternative drive and energy solutions, for example under the Accelera brand, which has bundled the US group’s electrification systems business since 2023.
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